Waiting Time Reduction in Outpatient Clinic using Lean Techniques: Abstract ID: 788708

摘要

In a local hospital in Kuwait, the patients complained of the lengthy treatment process in the physiotherapy department. The patients must spend 60 minutes on average per session with huge variability among different patients. Various Lean techniques were implemented to identify and reduces process cycle time. Lengthy changeover time and prolonged motion of nurses were identified as major reasons for the lengthy treatment time. SMED techniques, 5S, Poka-Yoke, and Simulation were used as tools for improvement. The results show a reduction in the motion of the nurse 47m to 14m/patient and overall reduction in the cycle time by 8.58 minutes/patient on average. Furthermore, the process flow in the physiotherapy department has improved in addition to a more organized working place.